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George Russell says Lewis Hamilton is âgoing to be a real threatâ in the 2026 Formula 1 title race after the Ferrari driverâs recent run of form, which includes a breakthrough win in Spain that has lifted him to second in the standings. Russell said: "It was a big, bold move to join Ferrari, and to see it now paying off for him is very special to see given the magnitude of the decision. And, yeah, he's going to be a real threat⌠Hopefully it doesn't continue for too long."
Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe said Aston Martin and Honda used their team gathering at the Spanish Grand Prix to strengthen trust and speak openly, as the partnership works through a difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. Watanabe said: "Our relationship with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team is growing stronger every day. At the recent Spanish Grand Prix, we had a team gathering, which gave us the great opportunity to communicate openly and strengthen our trust. I also enjoyed speaking directly with many members of the team. As one team, we will continue to work hard together, building on this strong foundation."
Liam Lawson said a âcrazyâ set-up change agreed with Red Bull for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix âdestroyedâ his race, and he was shocked to be told the next day that he was being switched out of the team. Lawson said: "And it sucked for this race, like the car was so hard to drive, and it just killed the fronts, and like basically destroyed our race, but honestly I didn't care at the time, because I was like: 'There's a reason we've done this,' and then flew back to the UK for simulator on whatever it was, a Tuesday or Wednesday, and then on Monday I get the phone call: 'We are switching you.' I was like: 'What?'"
Lewis Hamilton says the FIA and Formula 1 need to do more to stop the rising cost of karting making motorsport inaccessible to families from lower- and middle-income backgrounds. Hamilton said: "There's no accountability in terms of the people that run these organisations or run these sports. I don't know how, but there needs to be some way to make it accessible, and it is ridiculous. I know someone that has a kid who is eight years old that is spending over a million dollars a year... I just think today it's highly unlikely, if not impossible, for someone from a normal background to be able to make it to a place to compete with those that are spending a million. It shouldn't be allowed."
Ferrari could introduce its first FIA-permitted ADUO power unit upgrade as soon as this weekendâs Austrian Grand Prix, if it receives approval in time, Autosport reports. The update is expected to run alongside a newly developed Shell fuel, with the revised power unit already set to be sent to the Red Bull Ring pending sign-off. The details and performance gain are not confirmed, though Italian reports have suggested modest horsepower and lap-time improvements, with a second ADUO upgrade planned for later in the season.
Laurent Mekies says Red Bullâs upgrade package for the Austrian Grand Prix will not be enough on its own to close the gap to the front. Mekies said: "Everyone in Milton Keynes has been working very hard for that package, and there is no doubt that the Austrian package alone will not be enough. We know we'll have some further steps needed, but what is important is that it's on that continuous closing the gap trajectory that we have been on since post-Japan, that we continue to get closer, that we don't talk anymore about four-tenths, but hopefully about a lot less."
Isack Hadjar says Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen is willing to help and share information when asked, but does not seek advice from him. Hadjar said: "He definitely doesn't ask me for advice, but if I ask him, he answers. If I need information, he's very open, very kind. So, he doesn't hide anything because he knows he's strong."
HRC president Koji Watanabe says Hondaâs Formula 1 project with Aston Martin needs to be judged over the mid-to-long term rather than this year, after a difficult start to their partnership. Watanabe said: "There is a shared understanding that improvement is necessary and at the same time, there is also a clear understanding that the project must be evaluated over the mid-to-long term period, not this year. It will not dramatically change the situation overnight so our approach is unchanged and we will continue to work with a long-term perspective."
Williams team principal James Vowles expects a âfast and franticâ Austrian Grand Prix and warned the Red Bull Ring could expose the team again after its difficult Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Vowles said Williams is âon the back foot to startâ in 2026 and while it will keep adding performance, âsome of those issues wonât be rectified in the short termâ, even if it âwonât be as exposed as badly as we were in Barcelonaâ. He also highlighted track limits and altitude as key challenges.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has admitted the reigning champions âhave quite a lot to improveâ, with reliability still a key concern despite a clean Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend. After recent electrical and power unit problems â including Lando Norrisâs back-to-back retirements in Canada due to gearbox and battery issues â Stella told media including Motorsport Week: âFinally, a relatively calm and clean weekend from a reliability point of view,â but added: âWe have to rebuild from where we were.â He also said performance remains an area âin which we also have quite a lot to improve.â
Austriaâs national weather service and WeerOnline have issued a heat warning for this week at the Red Bull Ring ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, with temperatures forecast to rise above 30°C and potentially reach 35°C. Minimal cloud cover and little wind are expected in Spielberg, raising the prospect of the hottest race of the season so far and placing added strain on drivers, teams and fans.
Aston Martin insists its faith in Adrian Newey remains intact despite a bleak start to 2026 that has left it second from last in the constructorsâ championship after seven rounds, with one point and only Cadillac behind. Team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa said he sees âno difference whatsoeverâ in Newey and that âheâs working flat out. His work ethic is outstanding.â Fernando Alonso described the AMR26 as âthe worst car and the worst engineâ, with Aston Martin targeting a major upgrade at Spa.
Lewis Hamilton says he does not dwell on Formula 1 records and defines success as personal progress rather than results. Hamilton said: "From the outside world, results are what people call success, but I think internally, for me, it's just progress. If you're progressing, you're succeeding. That's why I've always said I'm really grateful for the records and those sorts of things, but they're not things I ever think of."
Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe says Hondaâs planned internal combustion engine upgrade for Aston Martin over the summer will not âdramatically change the situation overnightâ. Watanabe said: "It will not dramatically change the situation overnight. So our approach is unchanged and we will continue to work with a long-term perspective."
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown says he supports a return to V8 engines in Formula 1âs next engine regulations cycle, after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem suggested the change could be introduced from 2031 and potentially as early as 2030. Brown said: "Ultimately we need to defer to them [Mercedes, McLaren's engine supplier] on the technology side. But I think everything that we're hearing from the president about a V8, bigger ICE, the right fuel, less battery, [less] hybrid, [more] sound - all that sounds good. My technical skills don't go far beyond that, but I think that sounds like a great direction to try."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the team will discuss how Kimi Antonelli and George Russell race each other after their fight for the lead at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix cost time to Ferrariâs Lewis Hamilton. Toto Wolff said: "We didn't interfere in them fighting, because that's how we've always raced. But it's a situation we need to look into for the future, with both drivers, how to handle a situation where there's a pace differential if we are fighting for a victory or [we are at] the risk of losing a victory. And that's going to be an interesting discussion, but always totally transparent to the best interest of the team."
Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe says Hondaâs current situation with Aston Martin is âfundamentally differentâ from its time working with Red Bull, with new regulations and new technical partners adding to the difficulty. Watanabe said: "It is important to recognise that the current situation is fundamentally different from the time we worked together with Red Bull. The regulation is quite difficult, it is a new partnership with Aston Martin, the fuel is Aramco â and a new partner â and the lubricant is Valvoline, [which is also] new. So everything [is] new for us and it's not easy."
Alex Albon says Williams are âa good chunk offâ their midfield rivals in high-speed performance heading into next weekâs Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Albon said: "If you look at our high speed compared to our midfield rivals, we're a good chunk off. So obviously, the Red Bull Ring, sector two and sector three is all high speed, so we need to see what we do. But we can't forget, Carlos qualified a second and a half off [Liam] Lawson, so we've got some work to do."
Jack Doohan says getting back on the Formula 1 grid would be âamazingâ but it is no longer his âbe-all and end-allâ after being replaced at Alpine and moving to Haas as a reserve driver for the 2026 season. Doohan said: "I'm just focusing exactly on what's in my control, which is doing my best when I'm trackside, opportunities inside the car when they come, and apart from that, I'm not really over-analysing the outside noise that covers so much of what we do. If I managed to get back into a car, that would be amazing... I'm not in the same place [as last year] where it's the be-all and end-all."
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